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x4 Award winner
Award winner thanks to recommendations from couples on WeddingWire.com.
  • 2022
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2017

Graduate Minneapolis

From 10 to 350 guests
Ceremony/Reception
Outdoor/Indoor
Get Ready Rooms

Why couples loved this venue

  • Quality catering
  • Guests comfort
  • Amenities
Mary
Taylor
Eric
Matt
S

Recommended by 99% of couples

About this venue

About Graduate Minneapolis

At Graduate Minneapolis, we believe your wedding should be more than a single day—it should be an unforgettable wedding weekend.

Located on the University of Minnesota campus and just minutes from downtown Minneapolis, Graduate Minneapolis combines the convenience of a full-service hotel with distinctive event spaces designed to celebrate every chapter of your love story. From engagement parties and wedding showers to rehearsal dinners, ceremonies, receptions, after-parties, and farewell brunches, our team helps couples create a seamless experience for their guests all under one roof.

Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or a grand celebration, Graduate Minneapolis offers three unique event venues:

Meridian Ballroom

Our largest and most elegant event space, Meridian Ballroom accommodates up to 350 guests and features a spacious pre-function area, customizable layouts, and access to a private outdoor terrace. Perfect for grand receptions, ceremonies, and cultural celebrations.

Pinnacle Ballroom

Ideal for weddings of up to 150 guests, Pinnacle Ballroom offers an intimate and sophisticated setting complete with pre-function space and a private outdoor terrace for cocktail hours, ceremonies, or late-night celebrations under the stars.

Northpointe

Looking for something completely different? Northpointe is a one-of-a-kind social venue featuring a built-in bar, Topgolf Swing Suite experience, and flexible event space accommodating up to 120 guests for receptions or 80 guests for seated dinners. Perfect for rehearsal dinners, welcome parties, bachelor and bachelorette celebrations, wedding showers, brunches, and couples seeking a unique alternative to a traditional ballroom wedding.

When the celebration ends, your guests are only steps away from 304 thoughtfully designed guest rooms and suites. With customizable catering menus, pet-friendly accommodations, convenient parking, and an experienced wedding team dedicated to every detail, Graduate Minneapolis makes planning easy and celebrating unforgettable.

Services & Amenities

  • Wedding ceremonies and receptions

  • Wedding Rehearsal dinners and welcome parties

  • Wedding showers and wedding brunches

  • On-site catering and bar service

  • Custom menu development

  • Wedding room blocks

  • Complimentary wedding night suite

  • Two dedicated Get Ready Rooms

  • Outdoor terraces

  • Pet-friendly weddings

  • Tables, chairs, linens, china, and glassware

  • Setup and cleanup services

  • Convenient parking and accessibility accommodations

Cuisine

Our culinary team specializes in creating personalized menus that reflect each couple's unique style and traditions. From elegant plated dinners and interactive chef stations to grand buffet meals, cocktail receptions, and late-night bites, our chefs craft memorable dining experiences using fresh ingredients and creative presentations. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, allergy-friendly, and culturally inspired menus are available.

Location

Nestled in the heart of the University of Minnesota campus, Graduate Minneapolis offers a uniquely Minneapolis backdrop with easy access to downtown attractions, riverfront parks, and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Whether you're welcoming out-of-town guests or celebrating your connection to the University, our location makes it easy for everyone to gather, celebrate, and stay together.

Photos

Courtesy of: Vick Photography, Bellagala, Studion 220 Photography, Carina Photographics, Lauren B. Photography

Features

Large team (21+ members)

Experience

  • 8 years in business

  • We speak English and Spanish

Links

Visit website

FAQ

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$1,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$500

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$500

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$250

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Chairs
China
Clean Up
Event Planning
Flatware
Glassware
Linens
Set Up
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Server(s)

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$14

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Bartender(s)
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Specialty Beer

What is the minimum number of guests required to book your venue?

10

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

10

Describe your venue:

Ballroom
Hotel

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Accommodations
Bar Services
Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Get Ready Rooms
Liability Insurance
Outside Vendors
Pet Friendly
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Dessert
Hors d'oeuvres
Outside Cake
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Limited Bar
Liquor License
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Audio Equipment
Centerpieces
Chairs
Dance Floor
Decor
Furniture
Lighting
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

May
June
July
August
September
October

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
April
November
December

Still have questions?

Reach out about anything you didn't see answered here—no question is too small!

Wedding couple

Reviews of Graduate Minneapolis

This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

Powered by AI

The Graduate in Minneapolis receives high praise as an excellent wedding venue. Multiple reviewers highlight the staff's exceptional service, quick communication, and accommodating nature. The venue's setups for various wedding events, unique ambiance, convenient parking, and inclusive packages are highly appreciated. Guests rave about the delicious food, elegant hotel setting for photos, and stress-free planning process, making it a highly recommended choice for brides and grooms.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

The Graduate in Minneapolis receives high praise as an excellent wedding venue. Multiple reviewers highlight the staff's exceptional service, quick communication, and accommodating nature. The venue's setups for various wedding events, unique ambiance, convenient parking, and inclusive packages are highly appreciated. Guests rave about the delicious food, elegant hotel setting for photos, and stress-free planning process, making it a highly recommended choice for brides and grooms.

Weddingwire
5.0/5 43 reviews
Google
4.3/5 2118 reviews
S
Suki Sent on 11/08/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Best Staff and Venue

The Graduate was the perfect place for our wedding. The venue is beautiful and unique. Our guests raved about the lobby and the rooms. From the very beginning of the process, Michael the event planner was amazing. He was so helpful in making sure everything was set and perfect for out day. Michael worked with our vendors to schedule deliveries, he set up a multiple personalized requests for the day and made the planning experience enjoyable. I would recommend The Graduate for any event and for a fun stay in the heart of the beautiful U of MN campus.
Mary
Mary Sent on 12/10/2023
5 out of 5 rating

10++++ STARS!

Hands down, the BEST place to host a wedding in Minneapolis! The staff was amazing and soooooo accommodating - quick to return calls and emails and to answer any/all questions related to my son's wedding. 10+++++ stars!!
We hosted the groom's dinner, wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and dancing all in one space and it was the best wedding set-up ever! Guests are still raving about the food and ambience! We had an amazing room block rate. Michael worked with the bride on pricing food, open bar, late night buffet, Topgolf, etc... which made the entire process stress-free. The parking ramp is connected directly to hotel via skyway, which was a huge boon for guests when they arrived for the wedding.
We were able to bring in our own furniture, accessories, cake and rentals. We were also able to set things up as we wished with the help of Michael and his amazing team of energetic, hardworking and overly kind staff!!
We had the pleasure of enjoying the outdoor patio space, which was absolutely perfect for the cigar bar.
I highly recommend the Graduate to all brides & grooms!!!
My family is still raving about the wedding and it's been almost a month since the big event.
THANK YOU GRADUATE TEAM FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR MY SON AND HIS NEW WIFE!!!
E
Emily Sent on 11/30/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Cozy hotel with big personality, great food, and the best venu coordinator

Michael was fabulous to work with and always communicated promptly. His calm, get-it-done attitude was such an amazing tool to have on our side.

We had our groom's dinner, ceremony, reception, and guest block at The Graduate. It was an amazing experience and such a beautiful hotel. All of the staff was helpful, courteous, and made us feel welcome.

The vibe at The Graduate is super unique, the best of kitsch and class. It made for the best backdrops for our wedding photos and their food options are unique and fun.
A
Alyson Sent on 10/23/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Highly recommend!

Fantastic venue! They did the majority of the work which made wedding planning extremely easy & stress-free. Communication with their event planning team was exceptional! The food was great - we got so many compliments from our guests! We had quite a few guests traveling from other states, and this location was very convenient for our guests.
Taylor
Taylor Sent on 09/11/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Great Day at the Graduate

Planning: Michael was phenomenal from day one. We live out of state and did much of our planning via emails/calls. We were able to see the venue when it worked with our schedule and Michael was quick to respond when we had questions. Michael is great at setting timelines and gives a really easy excel to assist with the food planning.Location: Parking ramp with a skywalk attached and many amenities in walking distance! Our guests had so many compliments about the ease of our location as well as HOW COOL the hotel is. It is so unique and offers something for everyone. We booked the get ready room and that was nice to have the night before and day off for people to meet up in. We also did the Top Golf Suite the morning of and the groomsmen had a blast. Food: The catering package was amazing. Our guests continue to rave about the food. The cocktail hour had amazing snacks! The team even made sure my husband and I got our own plate to enjoy. Dinner was seamless and the portions were huge. No one was left hungry. Our late night pizza was also a hit! Price: You get a lot for what you pay for. The package included perks as well! Overall: I would get married here again in a heartbeat. My husband and I had so much fun and the entire Graduate team was amazing. Do not overlook this amazing venue! Photos by Rachel Lahlum

E
Eric Sent on 07/11/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect venue for a wedding and reception!

We are so glad that we chose the Graduate for our wedding this July (2023). Michael was great to work with in getting the day together. Extremely helpful, responsive, and professional throughout the entire planning process. The food and bar were great from the appetizers all the way to late night snacks. We received many compliments on how helpful and friendly the staff were the entire night. And the hotel was a beautiful setting for pictures!
K
Kevin Sent on 12/27/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Excellent venue

We worked with Michael and his team for a wonderful, stress-free event. Everything was VERY well organized, and Michael kept us on schedule for all of our decisions. Couldn't have made a better choice going with The Graduate!
Eric
Eric Sent on 08/13/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing, Beautiful, and Affordable Venue!

We got married on 8/6/2021, after postponing it a year due to COVID, and The Graduate's Event Director and staff were so understanding when we decided to postpone our wedding and easy to work with leading up to our wedding. Initially, we looked at several venues, but the Event Director, Michael Wicinski, won us over on The Graduate. He was absolutely wonderful to work with and helped us through all the details to make sure our big day was everything we could have asked for. Michael continued to blow us out of the water with his warmth, excellent customer service, meticulous organization and detail orientation. He made our wedding planning stress free. Our wedding was biking-themed, and The Graduate made sure we had a bike as part of our decor as well as for our photos. They definitely went above and beyond, and we couldn't be more happy with how our wedding reception turned out. We HIGHLY recommend anyone to have The Graduate as their wedding venue!
Matt
Matt Sent on 07/27/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Could not have turned out better

Originally we were planning on getting married June 2020, but for obvious reasons, had to postpone. The Graduate was incredible with helping us postpone and plan for our new date. The service staff was really nice and helpful and the venue and food turned out great! Planning a wedding during a pandemic is stressful, but working with the Graduate was one of the least stressful parts of the planning. Would highly recommend the venue as their packages and the people that work there make it a great place to have a wedding!
D
Derek Sent on 07/26/2021
5 out of 5 rating

A perfectly planned, wonderful reception

We knew right away that we had made the right choice when booking our wedding reception at the Graduate. They were always up to date on all of the changing covid policies and always let us know the newest information and how it would impact our reception. They made everything really easy and made sure we didn't overlook even the smallest detail. Michael was extremely helpful through the whole process. He was always there to answer our questions in a very timely manner and kept track of our many, many changes during planning. After all of the planning we did, we were stunned at how great the ballroom looked and how smoothly the day went. Our guests were in love with the uniqueness of the ballroom and had a great experience with the hotel side of things as well.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

43
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
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Team

Meghan Howard
Meghan Howard
Catering Sales Manager

Professional Network & Endorsements

Bellagala Photography Bellagala Photography Wedding Photographers

Commons Hotel are fantastic at what they do! They really appreciate and always work to reach everyone's needs. The team there were so helpful and really worked hard to make everything perfect!

Après Event Decor & Tent Rental Après Event Decor & Tent Rental Wedding Rentals

We are always happy to work with Brenda Picasso at The Commons Hotel!

Midwest Sound DJ Entertainment Midwest Sound DJ Entertainment Wedding DJs

The Commons Hotel is a fantastic place to have your reception. Beautiful Venue and Friendly Staff.

Map

Location

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Graduate Minneapolis frequently asked questions

Graduate Minneapolis includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planning
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Linens
  • Set Up
  • Tables
Graduate Minneapolis includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Server(s)
The bar service starting price at Graduate Minneapolis includes:
  • Bartender(s)
  • House Beer
  • House Liquor
  • House Wine
  • Open Bar
  • Premium Liquor
  • Specialty Beer
The space offered by Graduate Minneapolis for wedding events is known for:
  • Ballroom
  • Hotel
Graduate Minneapolis offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Graduate Minneapolis offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Graduate Minneapolis offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Accommodations
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Liability Insurance
  • Outside Vendors
  • Pet Friendly
  • Wifi
Graduate Minneapolis offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Audio Equipment
  • Centerpieces
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Decor
  • Furniture
  • Lighting
  • Tables
Graduate Minneapolis is recommended by 100% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 5.0, with the same score awarded for quality of service, flexibility, value, professionalism and average response time.
Graduate Minneapolis currently offers 2 offer promotions for wedding services.
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